Shared hosting faqs

Getting started.
Bandwidth.
Domain names.
eCommerce.
Email.
Scripting.
Server Administration.



Getting started.


What security / backup measures do you take?

We take security very seriously. We have a dedicated team of systems administrators on-site 24x7. All Linux servers are monitored continuously so we are able to respond immediately to any problems. There is a multi-layer protection of your data integrity. We use high spec servers hosted in one of our own UK data centres.

Our Linux based servers are backed up to tape on a regular basis to ensure that if any problems should occur the data from the server is available for restore. The archived tapes are held in a fire-proof safe outside of the data centre.


Can I have a temporary IP address so I can prepare the web space before I transfer my website from elsewhere to WebFusion?

Yes on our Linux based servers. We give you a temporary URL so that you can FTP your files onto our server and test the account. Once you're happy with everything, you can easily get your domain name re-pointed to our name servers.


What are the minimum contract terms for hostoffice accounts?

There is no minimum contract term. Please note certain items are non-refundable, including: domain names, secure certificates and software licensing fees. Should you wish to cancel your account, please contact our Customer Services Dept on 08701 999 020(option 2)

I've already built my website elsewhere. Can you transfer it over for me?

Unfortunately we are unable to do this. As your website data is confidential to you, we would not be able to access your files. However, you can simply make a local copy of all your files and then upload it onto our servers using FTP.

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Bandwidth.

How many visitors or hits can I get per x GB data transfer per month?

It's impossible for us to give you a figure. There are many factors that contribute to this. For example if your website is mainly plain text, every hit or visitor is using relatively less bandwidth than a graphics-heavy site.
Using the example of 1 GB bandwidth, on a 10 Kb page, that will allow 100,000 page impressions.

What happens if I reach my bandwidth limit?

We will not automatically deactivate your website if you reach your bandwidth limit. You can use as much as you like every month. However, excess bandwidth charges of £0.05 per MB will apply. These will be charged to your account automatically.
If you are worried about exceeding your limit, you can set a bandwidth alert via your hosting panel. You will then get an email notification when you have reached the specified alert limit.

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Domain Names.

I have an existing domain name. Will you transfer it over for me?

If you would like to simplify management of your website, you can let us take care of hosting your domain as well as the hosting.

Do I need to transfer my domain to you to use your hosting?

If you are happy to leave where your domain name is at the moment, you can simply get the name servers changed over. We would handle your website and emails, but domain management would remain with your current provider.

Do I have to have a registered domain name before I open an account?

No, you can register a domain name at the point of order if you wish.

What is a sub-domain?

If your website address is www.yourdomain.com , a sub-domain name is something in front of it - for example site1.yourdomain.com and site2.yourdomain.com.

Can I have more than one domain name per account?

With the exception of the Reseller account, you can only host one main domain name per hosting account. Though you can have multiple domains mapped to the one site.

Can I just buy domain name without hosting?

Yes you can. Search for your domain and then order via 08701 999 020.

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eCommerce & secure certificates.

How much is a SSL certificate?

If you require a full secure certificate for a Linux server, we use Thawte as our Certification Authority and use industry standard 128bit encryption. A personalised SSL specifically for use with your domain name costs £300 setup and £100 a quarter.

Can I install a shopping cart with our hosting package?

We offer a bespoke Business E-Commerce package not included with the hosting package. Please call 08701 999 020 for details.. However, you are welcome to build your own online shop using other software. Please note that in this instance we cannot guarantee compatibility as each different software package has different requirements.

Does your Business E-Commerce package include processing credit card details?

No. We recommend WorldPay as a payment gateway partner. You can get more details and sign up at worldpay.co.uk. However, you are also welcome to use your own provider, or even get a PDQ machine from your local bank.

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Email.

You mention POP3 email accounts. Do you also support SMTP?

Yes, we offer POP3, SMTP and IMAP email accounts.

What restrictions do you have on your email accounts?

E-mail is not the most efficient method for transferring large files, so to prevent your mail delivery being hampered by large emails we have set a 5 MB maximum size per email you send. It is not possible to increase this. However, larger files can always be sent and downloaded via FTP.
We do not have a specific limit on the number of emails you can send/receive, although to protect all our users from the problem of spam this is subject to our acceptable use policy.

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Scripting support and specifications.

What Operating System do your servers use?

Our hosting accounts currently run on a RedHat Linux, and Windows 2003.

Do you support video streaming?

At present, we offer audio streaming (RealAudio and MP3.) However, you would be able to have a video file available for download from your website. Most modern media players allows the video clip to start playing while it is being downloaded. This would work on our servers, but strictly speaking it is not video streaming.

Do you support audio streaming?

Yes we support RealAudio format. You can have up to 5 concurrent streams.

Do you support ASP?

Yes, all our accounts support ASP. The Linux accounts support ChilliSoft-ASP (now part of Sun ONE ASP).

What java support do you offer?

We support java applets as these are run client-side, however Java is not installed on our shared servers.

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Server Administration.

Can I run cron jobs?

Yes on our Linux accounts you can run one cron job every 12 hours.

Do I get root access?

As these accounts are hosted on a shared server, you do not get root access to the server. This means you cannot install your own applications, but is an essential security precaution when sharing resources with other users.

How many tables can I have on my database?

You can have unlimited tables per database.

How do I manage my MySQL database and can I connect to it directly from my home computer?

PHPMyAdmin is installed within your hosting control panel, and will allow you to administer your database(s). We can also grant SSH telnet access should you need the command line interface, subject to responsible use on your part.

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